Grow As We Go

Eat (Jelly) Slugs

Acacia stuck by her promise to Neville as much as she could, but Ron knew how to wear her down. She used all the tricks she's learned from her Slytherin friends as she could, but she was no match to the red-haired boy. She would tell him her most boring stories, whined about the smallest inconveniences and even told him every detail about her last period yet somehow the boy remained strong in his word to become her friend.

Now it wasn't that she didn't want to be his friend; over the last month of him trying to be her friend, she had grown fond of him. But it was the deal that made her want to be resistant. They probably could have been good friends by that point, but it just was who Acacia was. Growing up, whenever Mrs. Fletcher told her to clean her room, she'd make it messier, if Hazel asked to borrow a cute top for a date, she'd make a point in wearing it that day and accidentally spilling her morning tea on it.

Yet, there they were on the Wednesday of their October duty week, sharing a bag of Jelly Slugs. It was Ron's turn to bring snacks, who despite having the biggest appetite at Hogwarts, was more than willing to share.

"You know, snack sharing is probably the best term you could've set." Ron tells the girl as he picks out the last red treat from the bag.

"The second term I'd like to set, I get all the red ones." Acacia smirked as she plucked the sweet from his hand.

"No fair! They're the best." Ron sulked, comically crossing his arms and pouting.

"That's exactly the point." She giggled and bit the head off of the slug.

The two laughed got up from their spot in the Great Hall and went to do another round. This week they had been tasked to cover the two house towers and the classes in between. Unlike normal, there was something in the air that was getting to students. Acacia couldn't quite place it, but there was the spare set of students that would pass them that would bring the feeling back.

They had caught Luna Lovegood and Cho Chang taking their leisurely time getting back to the wise tower and they had knowingly greeted Ron who let them off with a warning. Acacia couldn't help but notice it affect Ron, who started to walk with an extra swagger after the incident. The Hufflepuff girl had decided not to pry as both girls were very pretty, and she was in no place to judge Ron's personal life.

The two continued on their final round as the long hand on the clock slowly edged its way towards midnight. Ron walked with his soon-to-be-friend towards her own house until they reached the spot they always ended at. Although, instead of their usual end-of-night chat, Ron stepped in closer, his face turning serious.

"Acacia, are you still unhappy with your Defense Against the Dark Arts lessons?" He asks her quietly.

"Of course." The girl laughed, crossing her arms. "Umbitch has been the worst one we've had yet. Worse than Gilderoy Lockheart and fake Mad-Eye."

"And if I were to tell you there were a group of students who felt the same, and they wanted to do something about it?" He pressed again.

"I would be interested to hear what they have planned." She replied skeptically.

"Hogsmead tomorrow, Hogs Head Inn."

"Is that a date Weasley?"

"You wish." He winked, the swagger returning for a moment. "Answer the question, will you come?"

"Yes." She replies honestly.

-

The next morning Acacia woke up, finally able to identify the feeling she'd felt the night before. It was hope. It made her jitter as she got ready, changing into her favourite checkered wool sweater and loose blue-jeans. Trips to Hogsmeade meant she didn't have to wear her robes and could dress however she wanted. She pulled her long dark brown hair back into a ponytail with a plait running down along the right of her head.